Rakkasans welcome home 300 soldiers from Afghanistan

The 3rd Brigade Combat Team "Rakkasans" hosted a welcome home ceremony for soldiers returning from a 9-month deployment in Afghanistan. Approximately 300 Soldiers of Task Force Rakkasan were welcomed after supporting Operation Freedom's Sentinel.

For the first time in a long time, children were held by their mothers and fathers, significant others were embraced, and parents were struck with relief as their soldiers had finally arrived home.

The 3rd Brigade Combat Team "Rakkasans" hosted their welcome home ceremony for 300 soldiers returning from a nine-month deployment in Afghanistan on Thursday. The group is the largest to arrive this week, following homecomings Saturday and Monday.

Keanu Oettinger kisses her boyfriend, John Manno, for the first time in nine months after his ...more

Keanu Oettinger kisses her boyfriend, John Manno, for the first time in nine months after his deployment in Afghanistan.

Erica Brechtelsbauer / The Leaf-Chronicle

Families waited in the heat for hours anticipating the arrival, and children peeked through the gates to get a closer look as flags and signs were waved. Once the first soldier stepped off the bus, the crowd erupted in cheers. Music played and each soldier was greeted with handshakes and praise.

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After a brief ceremony and speech, soldiers were released to their loved ones.

Tears streamed down the face of Melody Pimentel as she was hugged by her father for the first time in nine months. Clark Sweeney held his father's hand for the first time. Other soldiers were embraced with passionate kisses from wives, husbands, boyfriends and girlfriends.

After their 15 minutes of greetings, soldiers gathered to grab their luggage before returning to their homes.

During the deployment, The Rakkasans' main focus was to provide support to NATO's Resolute Support, in a training, advising and assisting mission. They helped to build the capacity of Afghanistan's Ministry of Defense (Army) and Ministry of Interior (Police) and to strengthen Afghanistan's National Defense and Security Forces (ANDSF).

The soldiers were instrumental in building ANDSF capacity in several critical areas, including infantry tactics, combined operations planning and execution between Afghan army and police units, logistics, personnel accountability and finance.

They also supported efforts with counterterrorism operations against al-Qaida, its affiliates, and Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant.

It was a successful nine months for the soldiers, but ultimately long. For now, their only mission is to go home to their families.